Hong Kong has been devoured by a 'sea of black' amid protests over extradition plans with China: How the intense blowback inspired a historic apology

Protests erupted in Hong Kong a week ago amid efforts to pass an extradition bill allowing some suspects to be sent to China to stand trial.

The proposed law was deeply unpopular, as many believe it could be wielded as a tool to weed out and silence political dissidents.

Hong Kong has been devoured by a 'sea of black' amid protests over extradition plans with China: How the intense blowback inspired a historic apology

Hundreds of thousands of residents of the territory swarmed the streets to express their opposition to the bill.

The marchers are demanding that Chief Executive Carrie Lam resign.

Hong Kong has been devoured by a 'sea of black' amid protests over extradition plans with China: How the intense blowback inspired a historic apology

Stand-offs between demonstrators and authorities have gotten ugly at times, with police firing tear gas and rubber bullets into the crowds.

More than 70 people have been injured.

One protestor died after falling from scaffolding in an attempt to hang a banner. That prompted mourners to lay out flowers and other makeshift memorials.

Lam said at a press conference Saturday that she was suspending the extradition bill.

That did little to subdue the protests.

Black-clad demonstrators continued to hit the streets in full force on Sunday to renew calls for government leaders to step down.

That created a "sea of black" that has cloaked the streets of the Asian financial hub.

Lam on Sunday issue an apology, saying "deficiencies in the Government's work had led to substantial controversies and disputes in society, causing disappointment and grief among the people"

Demonstrations nonetheless continued to mob the streets Sunday well into the evening.

Hong Kong has been devoured by a 'sea of black' amid protests over extradition plans with China: How the intense blowback inspired a historic apology